Strain-type disconnecting switch



Sept. 1, 1931. c. KQPPITZ 1,821,167

STRAIN TYPE DIS dONNECTING SWITCH Filed Jan. 13, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1attou eqa Sept. 1, 1931. c. G. KOPPITZ STRAIN TYPE DISCONNECTING SWITCHFiled Jan. 15, 2 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CARL G. IKOPPITZ, OF GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0RAILWAY AND INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF GREENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA,A COR- POBATION OF PENNSYLVANIA STRAIN-TYPE DISCONNECTING SWITCHApplication filed. January 13, 1926.

into the line wires of a transmission system and placed near supportinginsulators and have the purpose to open the line conductors at theparticular points for 1solat1ng sections of the system in case oftrouble or repair.

The object of the invention is an improvement upon switch mechanism ofthe type mentioned to facilitate adjustment of the position of themechanism relative to the line wires.

For a full understanding of the inventlon and the points of noveltythereof reference is made to the accompanying drawmgs 111 which Fig. 1is a diagrammatic representatlon of a part of a transmission line towhich the invention is applied;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a switch mecha nism according to the invention;and

Fig. 3 a detail view of a switch blade; and

Fig. 4; is a sectional View of aw mechanism for receiving the blade, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the contact aw structure.

Having reference to Figs. 2-4, 11 and 12 indicate the sections of a linethat may be interconnected or disconnected from each other by a switch.In the particular illustration the line is assumed to consist of a steelcore surrounded by an envelope of aluminum. The connections to theswitch are made by slitting the aluminum envelope and prying it awayfrom the core ends 11a and 12a, respectively, and then connecting thealuminum ends 11?) and 12b to the switch terminals while the core endsare interconnected by a string of strain insulators 13. The connectionbetween the core ends includes clamps 14c and 15 between which the coreends are firmly clamped, clamps 16 and 17 just outwardly of the clamps14; and 15 clamping the line ends around the aluminum envelope, links16a and 17a rigidly interconnecting clamps 14 Serial No. 81,117.

and 16 and clamps 15 and 17 respectively, and short round bars 18 and 19connected between clamps 1a and 15 and the string of insulators 13respectively.

To one of the bars, bar 18 in the illustration, is clamped the hingecasting 21 on which is pivotally supported the switch arm 22 while uponbar 19 is secured the jaw mechanism generally indicated by the numeral23.

The arm 22 carries at one end a hinge element 22a pivotally mounted upona hinge pin 21a of the hinge casting 21, cap nuts 21?) being preferablyused to screw upon the outer ends of the pin 21a to secure the hingeelement 22a in position. At the opposite end switch arm 22 carries aknife blade 22?) for engagement with spring jaws and an eye 22c forengagement by a hook stick for formed to define inner portions forcontact ing with the blade 22b, outwardly flaring.

portions facilitating the entrance of the blade and portions pressedinwardly toward each other to afford retaining shoulders againstmovement of the blade 226 out of contact position, as indicated in Fig.4. Thus, when the switch arm 22 is moved to close the switch, the blade22?) enters the mouth defined by the flaring ends of the fingers 230opening the jaws against the tension of springs 23d and after it hasreached its final position, the front portions of the fingers close uponeach other. The retaining shoulders under the action of springs 28deffectively hold the blade in contact position against all usual forcestending to dislodgeto torsional movement blade whereas a relatively easyjerk by means of the long operating hook stick effects a quick release.The action of the spiral springs 23d may be augmented by external leafsprings 23f provided with dished ends to fit over the ends of the twostuds 23c nearer the mouth of the contact fingers, only one of thesprings 23;" being shown in Fig. 2. By means of such auxiliu ary springsthe force for retaining the blade 22?) in position may be increased toany desired extent. In practice a steady pull of about 100-200 lbs. isrequired to disconnect the blade from the jaws. The springs are mountedupon the parallel plates 23b.

Connection between the ends 11?) and 12b of the aluminum sheathing andthe hinge casting 21 and jaw mechanism 23, respectively, may be made bymeans of clamps 24 having parallel grooves for receiving the said endsand connecting leads 25, as indicated.

The hinge casting 21 and the jaw mechanism 23 are attached to the roundbars 18 g? and 19, respectively, by means of Ushaped bolts 26 embracingthe'bars. By this arrangement the hinge casting and the jaw mechanismmay be adjusted lengthwise of the rods 18 and 19 and, above all, may bemoangularly adjusted to assume any desired position relatively to thehorizontal. The practical significance of the latter adjustment is thatthe plane of movement of the switch arm 22 may be adjusted to suitparticular requirements.

As has been schematically indicated in Fig. 1, in which 10 represents aline tower ormast carrying transmission wires, a, b, 0, (Z, 6 and f, itis sometimes desirable to operate switch arms in planes such asindicated by the dotted lines. By means of the round bars 18. and 19 andthe angular adjustment of the hinge casting 21 and jaw mechanism 23about these rods the planes of movement c1; of. the switch arms may beaccurately ad.-

justed' to afford the most expeditious operation of the switches.

Inasmuch as the mode of suspension of the switches involvessusceptibility of the parts a.) to torsional movement, I provide specialmeans'for facilitating the closing of the switch arms. I prefer the useof guide horns 27 and 2S flarin in opposite directions. The lower horns27 are considerably longer L1; than the upper horns 28, as indicated in65' switch he pulls the arm 22 toward him. preparatory to upwardmovement in the intended inclined plane toward the mouth of the contactfingers 23d. However, the operation with the long operating stick andthe unstable position of the arm make the closing operation uncertain.By the provision of the guide horns 27 and 28, it is merely necessaryfor the operator to push the arm 22 in the general direction of tie awmechanism, but preferably aiming a little higher so that the knife blade22b strikes the upper surface of the longer lower horn 27 and then theblade 22?) may enter between the contact fingers 2365 before a torsionalmovement of the jaw mechanism can defeat the purpose.

The construction of the jaw mechanism is an essential part of theparticular switch mechanism inasmuch as it is self-aligning and readilyadapts itself to the conditions If i of operation or the switch arm andthe loose coupling between the hinge connection and the jaw mechanism.The contact fingers are freely movable toward and away from each otherin the sense that each end may yield independently of the other end.

The arrangeme t described has considerable advantages 11 .smuch as theuse of a standard suspension unit involves a lower first cost and lessliability to breakage than a rigid post construction. failure of any oneunit of a string it can be cheaply replaced by stock of the sameinsulators as used on the line.

I claim:

1. The combination with a string of strain insulators for mechanicallyinterconnecting two sections of a high-tension line, of a switchincluding an arm, a hinge support therefor and jaws and means forsupporting the hinge support and the aws on opposite ends of the stringof insulators, said means including means for angularly adjusting theposition of the hinge support and the jaws about the string ofinsulators as axis.

2. The combination with the ends of two sections of a high-tension line,of a switch including an arm, a hinge support therefor, means forconnecting the hinge support to one of said ends including means forangularly adjustin its position about the said end axis, jaws and meansfor connecting the same to the other of said ends'including means forangularly adjusting the position of the jaws about the said end as axisand insulating means for mechanically interconnecting the two ends.

3. Construction according to claim 1 including means for adjusting theposition of the hinge support and the aws toward and away from eachother in the direction of length of the string of insulators.

4. The combination with the ends of two sections of a high-tension lineand insulating means for mechanically interconnecting the said ends, ofa switch including a switch Also in case of ,g-

arm, a hinge support therefor connected to one of said ends, jawsconnected to the other of said ends, and means for angularly adjustingthe position of the hinge support and the jaws about the said ends andthe insulating connecting means as axis, the jaws comprising contactfingers freely movable toward and away from each other and spring meansfor pressing the fingers toward each other.

5. The combination with the ends of two sections of a high-tension lineand insulating means for mechanically interconnecting the said ends, ofa switch including a switch arm, a hinge support therefor connected toone of said ends, jaws connected to the other of said ends, means forangularly adjusting the position of the hinge support and the jaws aboutthe said ends and the insulating means as an axis, the jaws comprisingcon-- tact fingers freely movable toward and away from each other,spring means for pressing the fingers toward each other, stationaryparallel plates, studs extending from the rear surfaces of said contactfingers outwardly through said plates, the spring means including coilsprings surrounding said studs and bearing against said plates and leafsprings bearing against the projecting end of one of the studs.

In testimony whereof, I affix mysignature.

CARL G. KOPPITZ.

